Can Sealing Device And Method Of Use

ABSTRACT

A can sealing device for resealing cans to preserve contents thereof includes a lid, which is resiliently flexible and stretchable. The lid comprises a disc, which is sized complementarily to an open end of a can having inner and outer rims, which define a groove. A first lip is engaged to the disc and extends circumferentially therearound and arcuately therefrom, so that an outer edge of the first lip is positioned below a lower surface of the disc. A second lip engaged to the lower surface of the disc is concentric with the first lip so that the first and second lips define a slot. The lid thus can be sealably engaged to the can by stretching it for insertion of the outer rim of the can into the slot and for insertion the second lip into the groove.

(b) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Not Applicable (c) STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not Applicable (d) THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT Not Applicable (e) INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM Not Applicable (f) STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR Not Applicable (g) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure relates to sealing devices and more particularly pertains to a new sealing device for resealing cans to preserve contents thereof. The present invention discloses a sealing device comprising a flexible disc having a pair of peripheral lips for resealing a can having a grooved open end, such as cans used for storing paint, putty, food stuffs, and the like.

(2) DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART INCLUDING INFORMATION DISCLOSED UNDER 37 CFR 1.97 AND 1.98

The prior art relates to sealing devices. Prior art sealing devices for cans may comprise sealing discs positionable within cans, flexible discs with rims that engage outer perimeters of cans, flexible discs with peripheral knobs matching recesses along tops of cans, and flexible discs with peripheral channels matching tops of specially designed cans. What is lacking in the prior art is a sealing device comprising a flexible disc having a pair of peripheral lips for resealing a can having a grooved open end, such as cans used for storing paint, putty, food stuffs, and the like.

(h) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a lid, which is resiliently flexible so that the lid is configured to be stretched. The lid comprises a disc, which is sized complementarily to an open end of a can of the type typically used for storing paint, putty, and the like. The open end of the can has an inner rim and an outer rim, which define a groove. A first lip is engaged to the disc and extends circumferentially therearound and arcuately therefrom, so that an outer edge of the first lip is positioned below a lower surface of the disc. A second lip engaged to and extending from the lower surface of the disc is concentric with the first lip. The second lip and the first lip thus define a slot. The lid can be stretched, allowing for insertion of the outer rim of the can into the slot and for insertion the second lip into the groove. The lid thus is sealably engaged to the can to preserve contents thereof.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

(i) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a can sealing device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram for a method utilizing an embodiment of the disclosure.

(j) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new sealing device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the can sealing device 10 generally comprises a lid 12, which is resiliently flexible so that the lid 12 is configured to be stretched. The lid 12 comprises silicone, rubber, or elastomer. The lid 12 comprises a disc 14, a first lip 16, and a second lip 18.

The first lip 16 is engaged to the disc 14 and extends circumferentially therearound and arcuately therefrom, so that an outer edge 20 of the first lip 16 is positioned below a lower surface 22 of the disc 14, as shown in FIG. 4. The first lip 16 has an outer surface 24, which is textured and thus configured to frictionally engage digits of a hand of a user.

The second lip 18 is engaged to and extends from the lower surface 22 of the disc 14. The second lip 18 is concentric with the first lip 16 so that the second lip 18 and the first lip 16 define a slot 26. The disc 14 is sized complementarily to an open end 28 of a can 30 of the type typically used for storing paint, putty, and the like. The open end 28 of the can 30 has an inner rim 32 and an outer rim 34, which define a groove 36. This type of can 30 is available is a variety of sizes and comes with a metal cover (not shown), which can be pried from the open end 28 of the can 30 to access contents thereof. One issue with this type of can 30 is improper sealing of the metal cover when attempting to reseal the can 30 after initial opening. Improper sealing leads to degradation of the contents, for example drying of paint or putty, and spoilage of foodstuffs.

The lid 12 of the present invention can 30 be stretched, allowing for insertion of the outer rim 34 of the can 30 into the slot 26 and for insertion the second lip 18 into the groove 36. The lid 12 thus is sealably engaged to the can 30 to preserve the contents.

In use, the can sealing device 10 enables a method 38 of resealing a can 30. The method 38 comprises a first step 40 of providing a can 30 having an open end 28, wherein the open end 28 has an inner rim 32 and an outer rim 34 defining a groove 36. A second step 42 of the method 38 entails providing a lid 12 comprising a disc 14, a first lip 16, and a second lip 18, as disclosed above. A third step 44 of the method 38 includes stretching the lid 12 and inserting the outer rim 34 of the can 30 into the slot 26 and the second lip 18 into the groove 36, so that the lid 12 is sealably engaged to the can 30. The method 38 may comprise a fourth step 46 of pressing downwardly upon the disc 14, proximate to a centerpoint 48 thereof, so that air is expelled from the can 30 to create a partial vacuum therein.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

1. A can sealing device comprising a lid, the lid comprising: a disc sized complementarily to an open end of a can, wherein the open end of the can has an inner rim and an outer rim defining a groove; a first lip engaged to the disc and extending circumferentially therearound and arcuately therefrom such that the first lip is directed back towards a center of the disc with an outer edge of the first lip being positioned below a lower surface of the disc; and a second lip engaged to and extending from the lower surface of the disc and being concentric with the first lip, such that the second lip and the first lip define a slot, the lid being resiliently flexible such that the lid is stretchable, wherein the lid is configured for stretching, allowing for insertion of the outer rim of the can into the slot and for insertion the second lip into the groove, such that the lid is sealably engaged to the can for preserving contents thereof.
 2. The can sealing device of claim 1, wherein the first lip has an outer surface, the outer surface being textured, wherein the outer surface is configured for frictionally engaging digits of a hand of a user.
 3. The can sealing device of claim 1, wherein the lid comprise silicone, rubber, or elastomer.
 4. A can sealing system comprising: a can having an open end, the open end of the can having an inner rim and an outer rim defining a groove; and a lid comprising: a disc sized complementarily to the open end of the can, a first lip engaged to the disc and extending circumferentially therearound and arcuately therefrom such that the first lip is directed back towards a center of the disc with an outer edge of the first lip being positioned below a lower surface of the disc, and a second lip engaged to and extending from the lower surface of the disc and being concentric with the first lip, such that the second lip and the first lip define a slot, the lid being resiliently flexible such that the lid is stretchable, such that the lid is positioned for stretching, such that the outer rim of the can is insertable into the slot and the second lip is insertable into the groove, such that the lid sealably engages to the can for preserving contents thereof.
 5. The can sealing system of claim 4, wherein the first lip has an outer surface, the outer surface being textured, wherein the outer surface is configured for frictionally engaging digits of a hand of a user.
 6. The can sealing system of claim 4, wherein the lid comprises silicone, rubber, or elastomer.
 7. A can sealing method, the method comprising the steps of: providing a can having an open end, the open end of the can having an inner rim and an outer rim defining a groove; providing a lid comprising: a disc sized complementarily to the open end of the can, a first lip engaged to the disc and extending circumferentially therearound and arcuately therefrom such that the first lip is directed back towards a center of the disc with an outer edge of the first lip being positioned below a lower surface of the disc, and a second lip engaged to and extending from the lower surface of the disc and being concentric with the first lip, such that the second lip and the first lip define a slot, the lid being resiliently flexible such that the lid is stretchable; and stretching the lid and inserting the outer rim of the can into the slot and the second lip into the groove, such that the lid is sealably engaged to the can for preserving contents thereof.
 8. The can sealing method of claim 7, wherein the first lip has an outer surface, the outer surface being textured, wherein the outer surface is configured for frictionally engaging digits of a hand of a user.
 9. The can sealing method of claim 7, wherein the lid comprises silicone, rubber, or elastomer.
 10. The can sealing method of claim 7, further including a step of pressing downwardly upon the disc, proximate to a centerpoint thereof, such that air is expelled from the can, creating a partial vacuum therein. 